I know 27 is not that old, and I know I still have a long road ahead and so many more things to learn about life, art, and everything else. But I still wanted to share with you the things I wish I knew as an artist in the very early days of my practice.
Now listen, some of these are more about you as a person than about your art. But it all equally matters because you are the core of your art. So let’s jump straight into it.
1. It’s okay to start a new painting when you have three unfinished ones
Don’t postpone projects you are excited about just because you’re guilty about the unfinished ones. Let go of perfectionism and allow yourself to be creative for the joy of the process.
2. Stop avoiding fundamentals
Studying the fundamentals of perspective, composition, anatomy, color, and light is the most efficient way to improve. No practice is going to lead you to great growth the way that practice based on knowledge would.
3. Start sharing your art with others
I know you think you should wait until you are good enough to share your work with the world, but that is your perfectionist critique self telling you to keep hiding. The two magic words for creating an audience are sharing and consistency. No one expects you to be a master on your first try. In fact, 99% of people don’t even care about you or your art. And if some do, and they are pressuring you, feel free to start a new page and block them.
I Blocked Everyone Because I Needed Space to be an Artist.
4. Don’t underappreciate your art just because you’re a beginner
This is one of the things I really wish I knew as an artist when I first started. I was a teenager, and with a few paintings, I was desperate to sell my art. At the time, I just wanted to test the market and make sure that people had the desire to buy my artwork, so I was charging very little money for the custom portraits. Looking back, I know I could have charged more, and that is why nowadays I charge what I want, if it’s too much for my clients, I would rather use my time to work on something else or to at least have more rest.
5. I know you think that other artists are more talented than you, but they have just put in more work than you did
I recall scrolling on Instagram and Pinterest when I was younger and wondering how people were born with such great talent. Until people started complimenting “my talent” instead of all the hours of work and consistent practice I was putting into my paintings, I realized it wasn’t about talent, age, or studying academic arts; it was pure effort, will, and consistency.
6. Your art matters, but your health matters the most
It sounds like the advice of a grandma, but if you’re not healthy, if you’re spending sleepless nights and skipping meals to balance your life and art, you will shortly be exhausted and unable to create any further. Do not prioritize your work over your mental, emotional, and physical health. It’s not worth it.
7. Envy, anger and resentment
You see artists online getting famous and “successful” for paintings they stole from someone or an idea they didn’t credit its owner for; they may have jumped on a trend or used their connections to grow a following, and I know that you see other artists creating with integrity following a slower process that seems to make no progress at all. Buddha said, “Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die“. Your job as an artist is to create your art, share it with the world, mind your own business, and protect your peace. Leave the frauds to karma. A career built on lies and stolen ideas doesn’t last that long. You forgive and forget for you, not for them.
8. Power is found in simple tasks
If you paint one day for 24 hours and take a week of rest, you’re not making a powerful move. 8 hours of sleep, 4 hours of creative work, 45 minutes of exercise, 30 minutes of sunlight, and good, healthy meals are the elements of the power move formula. Define the meaning of a consistent schedule and respect it. Nearly everything in life compounds over time. Your habits are the silent architects of your life and career.
Why does an artist burnout? Your guide to burnout quickly and easily as an artist
9. Stop linking your happiness to your goals
One of the things I wish I knew as an artist was the fact that I am allowed to be happy now. As a teen, I thought I would reach happiness when I had accomplished some arbitrary set of goals. I understand now that it’s a journey we embark on each and every day. Be happy. Allow yourself to be happy.
10. No one has life figured out
Not a 27-year-old, not a 50-year-old, and not those who died either. Who you are, what’s your purpose, and what’s the right place to be right now are questions that tend to keep creative people up at night more times than they could count. Do your best to find your path but don’t become obsessed with it.
Conclusion
A bonus thing I learned is that if you are the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room. The people who surround you, have a huge impact on your life, your persona, and your career. Advantage or disadvantage, it’s your choice. Enjoy creating <3
